hiu3 mun4竅門窍门
Jyutpinghiu3 mun4
Yalehiu mùhn
Definition
Knack; key technique or trick to doing something successfully.
colloquialdaily actionswork
How it's used
Refers specifically to the hidden or non-obvious secret that makes a task easier or more efficient. It implies that someone has discovered a shortcut or a clever method that others might miss. People often use it when sharing advice on how to master a skill or solve a recurring problem.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
It turns out there is a knack to making this cake.
Do you know any tricks to get this finished faster?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 技巧, which is a broader term for general skill or technique. 竅門 carries the nuance of a specific, clever 'trick' or 'insider secret' rather than just technical proficiency.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
